Safety razor for receiving blades from a magazine



I B. J. CRAIG July 14, 1964 SAFETY RAZOR FOR RECEIVING BLADES FROM A MAGAZINE Filed Jan. 1'7, 1963 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,140,542 SAFETY RAZOR FOR RECEIVING BLADES FRGM A MAGAZINE Burnie J. Craig, 1042 La Presa Drive, Pasadena, Calif. Filed Jan. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 252,199 2 Claims. (Cl. 30-62) This invention relates to safety razors and particularly to safety razors of the type in which new blades are adapted to be fed into the head of the razor from a bladefilled magazine.

The general object of the invention is to provide an injection type razor which is easy to manufacture, is simple in construction and is higly efficient in use.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel two-piece injection razor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a two- 7 piece injector razor which can be made by molding or casting and wherein the blade seat has a groove into which a portion of the clamping member extends when the razor is completed and before a blade is placed on the blade seat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel razor blade seat adapted to be secured to a blade clamping member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel blade clamping member which is adapted to be used with a blade seat.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel spring and a novel spring mounting for urging the blade in an injector razor towards its seat.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a razor embodying the features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with a razor blade in operative position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the blade clamping member in forward blade releasing position;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the razor;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the blade clamping member;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section taken on lines 6 -6, FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a section taken on line 7--7, FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8, FIG. 3 with the blade injector inserted;

FIG. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9, FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation showing the spring; and

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the razor blade showing the blade holding members.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the invention is shown as embodied in a razor which is indicated generally at R.

As shown the razor consists of a body portion 10 which includes a handle 11, with a clamping member on portion 12 and a front portion 13 integral therewith. The body includes an upwardly opening transversely extending slot 14 which is remote from the handle 11 and extends across the body and is shown as open at each end.

The lower part of the slot 14 has parallel sides 15 and 16 and a planar bottom 17. The side 15 of the slot flares outwardly as at 18 to a lip 19 which projects above the lower end of a transverse slot 20.

The slot 20 is defined by a planar face 21 which extends upwardly to a lower face 22 of the clamping portion 12 and is spaced relative to the outer wall 22' of the clamping portion 12 to provide an upper rear portion or plate 23. The wall 16 of the slot 14 flares outwardly as at 24 opposite to the portion 18 and the portion 24 terminates in a tip 25.

3,140,542 Patented July 14, 1964 The razor also includes a blade platform 30 which is formed separately from the body 10. The platform 31 includes a blade receiving seat 31 and a depending cam portion or plate 32.

The cam plate at its lower end has a rectangular, transversely extending enlarged stem 33 integral therewith. This stem 33 has a sliding fit with the slot 14 in the body 10. The stem 33 may be coated with adhesive 34 and then slipped into place in the slot 14. When the adhesive has cured the cam plate and attached blade platform will be integrally secured to the body at a location remote from the blade platform. The stem has an upwardly facing shoulder 34'.

As shown the sides of the front portion 13 of the back plate 23 and the cam plate 32 all converge uniformly downwardly to a neck, as shown at 19 in FIG. 4, until they merge with the handle 11.

The seat 31 is planar and underlies the blade clamping portion 12.

intermediate the width of the seat 31 and extending thereacross there is a V-shaped notch or groove 35 in the seat into which the downwardly directed tip 12' of the clamping portion 12 preferably extends slightly when there is no blade in the razor, as shown in FIG. 1.

The blade platform 36 across its front edge 37 has an arcuate downwardly directed guard 38 for the cutting edge 39 of a blade 44} arranged upon the seat 31. The blade is shown as rectangular with parallel ends and sides and with slightly beveled corners 41. Near its forward edge the seat 31 is provided with clearance openings 42.

The guard 38 is transversally ribbed as at 43 and the top of the ribbed portion is disposed slightly below the cutting edge 39 of the blade as shown 43 in FIG. 6.

The cutting edge 39 of the blade engages small upstanding spaced lugs 44 which are arranged at each edge of the seat 31 and extend above the seat. The lugs 44 each have beveled end faces 44' to guide a blade being inserted into the razor and to allow a used blade to be readily pushed from the razor.

The rear edge of the blade is engaged by a small centrally disposed boss 45 which extends below the portion 12 of the clamping member. This boss projects in front of the face 21 of the back plate 23 and pushes a blade 40 forwardly into engagement with the lugs 44 as shown in FIG. 11.

The rear face 50 of the cam plate 32 is spaced from the face 21 of the back plate 23 to provide a slot 51 to receive a key or finger 52 on an injector blade magazine 53. The lower face 53' of the slot 20 provides a shoulder which forms a shoulder to engage the key 52 which is of sufficient width, as shown in FIG. 3, to perform the required functions. The rear face 50 of the cam plate 32 is preferably longitudinally arcuate and at one location is provided with a transversely extending leading cam face 54 and a trailing cam face 55 which is aligned with the cam face 54. The faces 54 and 55 are grooved as shown in FIG. 5.

The injector finger 52 is provided with a leading cam lug 56 and a trailing cam lug 57. In front of the cam lug 57 the cam plate 32 is grooved and substantially straight as at 58. Between the cam faces 54 and 55 the plate 32 is also grooved and substantially straight as at 59. The portions 58 and 59 may be slightly inclined relative to the face 21 of the back plate 23 to provide a mold draw.

The distance between the face 21 of the back plate 23 and the face 59 of the cam plate 32 is slightly greater than the height of the lug 56 so that the lug 56 when the injector is first inserted will pass over surface 58, the cam face 54 and the surface 59 before it engages the cam 55. The groove 53 flares as at 58' at its entrance to facilitate insertion of the finger 52.

o The groove 53 in front of the cam 54 and the planar face 21 of the back plate 23 are parallel and are spaced apart slightly greater than the height of the lug 57.

The construction is such that when the injector finger 52 is inserted the leading cam 56 will engage the cam 55 at the same time that the trailing cam 57 engages the cam 54. This assures that the depending cam portion 32 due to its spaced cam engagement with the injector key lugs will move forward without undue twisting action.

When a new blade has been inserted and the injector is withdrawn the closing movement between the platform and clamping member caused by the inherent resiliency of the material from which one or both of the parts are made will cause the tip portion 12 of the clamping member 12 to engage the blade and hold the latter firmly in place. The blade is sufficiently stilf so that the pressure of the portion 12' will not cup the blade into the groove 35.

The lower face of'the blade platform 30 is shown as provided with end and intermediate reinforcing ribs 30 which extend downwardly from the platform as shown in FIG. 6 and in other figures of the drawing.

The blade platform 30, due to the shape of the cam plate 32, has the needed resiliency to permit it to be moved by the injector cams to blade changing position and then has the required resiliency to cause it to spring back to blade holding position. The clamping member back plate 23 is sutficiently thick and is shaped so that it has only a slight resilient action when the blade platform 30 is moved by the injector blade.

The razor is preferably formed of a material which will withstand water and the maximum temperature to which a razor may be exposed during normal and reasonable use.

When materials are employed which do not have the needed resiliency in making either the body portion or the blade platform 30 it will be desirable to augment the resiliency by use of a spring member 60 which is best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

As shown the spring includes a slightly bowed portion 61 which is connected by a loop 62 to another bowed portion 63 of shorter length than the portion 61. The portion 63 includes a terminal loop portion 64.

The spring 60 is inserted into the slot between the portion 24 and the front of the cam plate 32, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 1.

The tip 25 is provided with a narrow slot 65 into which the loop portion 64 of the spring extends. The portion 61 of the spring is arranged in a slot 66 in the cam plate 32. The spring is preferably inserted in the top of the slot 14, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. The spring 60 urges the cam plate 32 to the right in FIG. 1. When the injector key or finger 52 is inserted, the spring reacts to further urge the cam plate to the right in FIG. 1. When the injector key or finger has been inserted the portion 61 of the spring will be tightly engaged by the loop 63 and the portion 64 and 67 of the spring will engage the walls of the slot 65 so that the spring action is compounded. Flattening of the loop portions 63, 64 and 67 of the spring will elongate these loop portions and will cause the portion 64 to ride up the inclined upper portion 68 of the slot 65.

The use of the spring 60 maintains the long and desirable radius of movement of the cam plate 32.

A further advantage of the construction described and illustrated is that the blade is seated over a large area and that the surface of the blade is tightly engaged over this area to thus reduce vibration of the blade during use.

The razor may be made of plastics by molding or casting or by other methods presently known to the industry. The material from which the razor is made may be any of a number of materials which have the required properties. Among the materials found suitable are Nylon, Celcon, Delrin, Teflon, Plexiglas and others.

The razor also may be made from metal by die casting or otherwise.

The notch 35 in the blade platform permits the parts to be made so that in relaxed position as in FIG. 1 and with no blade on the platform the tip 12 of the clamping portion 12 will extend slightly below the plane of the seat 31 and into the notch 35.

When the blade platform and the clamping member have been moved apart by the injector key or finger the tip portion 12 will be disposed only slightly above the plane of the blade platform so that the old blade being removed and a new blade being inserted will both be lightly engaged by the tip 12 to prevent accidental movement of either blade before the injector is withdrawn and the new blade clamped upon the seat 31.

The sides of the handle, as at 69, are concave about long radii so that the razor may be properly gripped for shaving.

The shape of the clamping member causes this member to form a strong engagement to hold the blade firmly upon its seat. The cam plate 32 intermediate its length tapers to a location at 70 which is below the cam faces 54 and 55 and the blade platform when moved by the injector swings in the movement with a relatively long springing action.

The degree of the clamping members resilience and its action in clamping the blade between the lugs 44 and the boss 45 will depend upon the natural properties of the material from which the razor is made and the parts will be correlated in accordance with the predetermined character of the material employed and the results desired.

When the injector finger 52, as shown in FIG. 3, is inserted the cam lugs 56 and 57 will cause the tip portion 12 of the clamping member to move away from the blade clamping position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 3 where the portion 12 lightly engages the blade. In this position the rear end 31' of the seat 31 has moved slightly upwardly as its shifts. This will cause the portion 31' of the seat to lift the blade into light engagement with the lower face 22 on the clamping member.

The parts are so arranged that under the conditions just described the blade will be lightly urged to its seat by engagement with the tip 12' and the face 22. This light engagement serves to prevent the blade from being displaced accidentally but does not prevent the removal of the old blade as the new blade moves to its seat.

The blade seat 31 at the left in FIG. 5 slopes downwardly as at 71 across its entire width. This is to allow a fresh blade to be readily inserted from the magazine.

When the new blade is advanced from the blade magazine it will engage and push the old blade from the razor.

When a new blade has been inserted in the razor and the injector key has been withdrawn, the clamping tip 12' of the clamping member will push the blade against the seat 31 and at the same time the blade will be engaged by the lugs 44 and the boss 45 on the clamping member to correctly position the blade for shaving.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a razor, a body including a handle having an upper portion thereon, said upper portion being provided with a forwardly projecting blade clamping member adapted to clamp a blade in shaving position upon a blade seat, a separately formed blade platform having an integral depending cam portion thereon, said blade platform having a blade seat thereon disposed beneath the clamping member for receiving a blade to be held by the clamping member, means to integrally unite the lower end of said depending cam portion and said upper portion at a location remote from said blade platform, said cam portion and said upper portion including parts spaced apart to form a slot for the reception of a finger on a blade magazine, said blade platform integral depending portion being constructed from a material so that the upper ends of said portions can be separated to a limited extent, said portions being biased so that they are normaliy urged towards each other to clamp a blade on the blade seat, said blade seat having spaced lugs thereon adapted to be engaged by the sharpened edge of a blade, said clamping member including a part adapted, when the clamping member is in clamping position, to urge a blade against the seat and said clamping member including another part adapted, when the clamping member is in clamping position, to urge a blade into engagement with the spaced lugs.

2. In a razor, a body including a handle having an upper portion thereon, said handle upper portion being provided with a forwardly projecting blade clamping member adapted to clamp a blade in shaving position upon a blade seat, a separately formed blade platform having an integral depending cam plate portion thereon, said depending cam plate portion having a carnming surface on the upper part of its rear face adapted to engage a blade magazine finger, said depending cam plate portion intermediate its length being of decreasing cross-section downwardly to a location which is below the camming surface on the cam plate, said cam plate portion and said upper portion of the handle being integrally and directly connected and, in the connected area, being rendered immovable with respect to each other, the connected area being at a location which is below that portion of said cam plate portion which is of decreasing cross-section downwardly so that the blade platform has a relatively long spring action, at least one of said portions being constructed from a material so that the portions can be separated to a limited extent, the portions being biased to normally urge the depending cam plate portion towards the said upper portion of said handle, the blade platform including a blade seat disposed beneath the clamping member for receiving a blade to be held by the clamping member, a guard for a blade on said blade seat and spaced lugs on said blade seat for engaging the front end edges of a blade on the seat, means on the upper portion of the handle for engaging the rear edge of a blade on said blade seat for urging the blade towards the lugs, said handle upper portion being spaced apart at a location opposite to the camming surface to receive a cam finger on a blade magazine, the forward face of the handle upper portion having a shoulder thereonfor engaging and guiding a cam finger of a blade magazine to blade releasing position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,169,395 Greist et al Jan. 25, 1916 1,337,435 Brown Apr. 20, 1920 1,756,439 Schick Apr. 29, 1930 2,138,063 Hotson et al Nov. 29, 1938 2,221,379 Hilliard et al. Nov. 12, 1940 2,281,980 Kuhnl May 5, 1942 2,661,533 Shnitzler Dec. 8, 1953 2,701,910 Butlin Feb. 15, 1955 2,771,673 Nash Nov. 27, 1956 2,911,713 Kuhnl Nov. 10, 1959 3,061,926 Fjeran Nov. 6, 1962 80,651 La Cas Mar. 12, 1963 

1. IN A RAZOR, A BODY INCLUDING A HANDLE HAVING AN UPPER PORTION THEREON, SAID UPPER PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH A FORWARDLY PROJECTING BLADE CLAMPING MEMBER ADAPTED TO CLAMP A BLADE IN SHAVING POSITION UPON A BLADE SEAT, A SEPARATELY FORMED BLADE PLATFORM HAVING AN INTEGRAL DEPENDING CAM PORTION THEREON, SAID BLADE PLATFORM HAVING A BLADE SEAT THEREON DISPOSED BENEATH THE CLAMPING MEMBER FOR RECEIVING A BLADE TO BE HELD BY THE CLAMPING MEMBER, MEANS TO INTEGRALLY UNITE THE LOWER END OF SAID DEPENDING CAM PORTION AND SAID UPPER PORTION AT A LOCATION REMOTE FROM SAID BLADE PLATFORM, SAID CAM PORTION AND SAID UPPER PORTION INCLUDING PARTS SPACED APART TO FORM A SLOT FOR THE RECEPTION OF A FINGER ON A BLADE MAGAZINE, SAID BLADE PLATFORM INTEGRAL DEPENDING PORTION BEING CONSTRUCTED FROM A MATERIAL SO THAT THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID PORTIONS CAN BE SEPARATED TO A LIMITED EXTENT, SAID PORTIONS BEING BIASED SO THAT THEY ARE NORMALLY URGED TOWARDS EACH OTHER TO CLAMP A BLADE ON THE BLADE SEAT, SAID BLADE SEAT HAVING SPACED LUGS THEREON ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY THE SHARPENED EDGE OF A BLADE, SAID CLAMPING MEMBER INCLUDING A PART ADAPTED, WHEN THE CLAMPING MEMBER IS IN CLAMPING POSITION, TO URGE A BLADE AGAINST THE SEAT AND SAID CLAMPING MEMBER INCLUDING ANOTHER PART ADAPTED, WHEN THE CLAMPING MEMBER IS IN CLAMPING POSITION, TO URGE A BLADE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SPACED LUGS. 